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Finding Family

By: Egmont Grigor



CHAPTER 1

The office party was pretty tame. No babe threatening to strip or a couple not unable to wait to reach broom cupboard. Just people in groups, chatting and some looking bored. The music started and two pairs of women, probably not gays but who knows these days, began dancing, guys looking at them, minds ticking.

"Ryan are you thinking of dancing?"

"No partner."

"I'll partner you."

"Can't dance."

Mrs Manson, the boss's wife who was hosting the party said," I'll fetch you another beer and we'll then discuss this antisocial behavior of yours."

Antisocial -- who Ryan Boswell? Get out of here. Ryan followed the cheeky bitch to the kitchen. Her name was Penny.

Penny heard him enter and turned and kissed him, easy as pie. And was away she moved before he could open his mouth for her tongue or grab a tit.

"I note an improvement already Ryan. You are showing some interest in me. Good boy. I attempted to be negative about you and you rose above that."

She grabbed a beer for him and cupping her tits shook then at Ryan. "If you are caught touching me you'll probably be beaten and fired. Don't do it unless you feel suicidal."

He stared, feeling his arousal building.

Penny licked her lips.

Something inside Ryan's head yelled "Go!" so he pressed her hard against one of the kitchen benches and smothered her mouth with his. She remained completely passive expect for the one flick of her tongue that caught his.

He reached down and drove his fingers up straight into a wet pussy. Christ she wasn't wearing panties and was dripping. Two fingers had gone in without complaint so he worked in a third and her breath hissed.

"Ryan, what the hell are you doing to my mother?"

He leapt as if he'd been shot and saw Penny the kamikaze bitch smile saucily and pull down her dress while saying, "Oh hello dear."

Doubtless heading for unemployment Ryan held out his dripping fingers dumbly and without thinking thrust them into his mouth.

"Oh god, now I've seen everything," Miranda said.

"I-I didn't want to drip on the cork floor tiles."

Miranda's mouth opened in deeper shock. "How on earth can your rationalize in such an tremendously upsetting moment like this?"

"I wasn't upset," Ryan confessed.

"No I," said her mother, adjusting her top as if Ryan had been down there tit gouging. 

"Then why am I the only one upset?"

"I really don't know darling," Penny said, adjusting her hair and walking off.

Unable to think of anything else to say, Ryan said, "Search me" and Miranda, now close to tears, said in protest, "Am I the only sane person in this house?"

"You've had a bit of a shock Miranda. You're only nineteen and have led a sheltered life it would seem."

"I'm going to my room."

"Can I come with you?"

"What?"

"Can I come with you -- I'll grab a couple of cokes.

"Oh all right. Now I'm also crazy."

Ryan entered the bedroom decorated repulsively in pink and white. "This room needs a makeover."

"I think so too. How can you be a seducer and a practical décor adviser in the space of five minutes?

"Be fair, I didn't get far because you burst in where you weren't wanted."

"I see. So I'm to blame for my mother not being seduced by our family company's newest employee?"

"Put that way, yes."

"Do you go around fucking women and then fuck their daughters?"

"Now that you mention that, no. I don't get very far with most females and they are usually around my own age."

"Which is?"

"Twenty-two."

"So that means I'm quite safe."

"Um looking at you, I wouldn't take that for granted."

"Oh you think so."

"You're a pretty hot chick Miranda. I've seen you around quite a bit."

"I bet you eye anything in a skirt, even someone as old as my mother."

"Or older."

Miranda frowned. "Is that a joke?"

"Yes."

She grinned.

"I still can't get over what you were doing to my mother."

"Get over it. It happens. Why aren't you out there with your dad arranging for my a violent exit from this family business?"

"I need my head examined I guess. So you came across my mother alone in the kitchen and pounced, leaving the astonished woman little option but to submit without offending a guest. Or was it that she lured you into the kitchen and then she pounced?"

"No, you mom was a completely innocent party. I just had... um... a blood rush. Yes she was innocent."

"Liar, my mother is a compulsive seducer of men."

"I don't believe it."

"I didn't either until I heard the rumor and then chanced to see her in action a couple of times."

"You spied on her?"

"No, I chanced across the fornicators and kept myself between them and my father. He would beat the crap out of anyone interfering with his wife if he found out about it."

"So your mother gets all the action and you get none?"

"Something like that. You best get out and join in the party. It's a good chance to get to know people better."

"Well I have gotten to know you a lot better. You mom is now off limits to me now, I promise."

"Thank you. I'll be out soon. I'm still recovering. God Ryan, I'm never seen anything so sexy as you sucking my mother's pussy juice off your fingers."

Ryan crashed into the door jam in shock, although not hurting himself.

"If I get my room upgraded I'll have the doorway widened," she cackled.

The company provided an exclusive passenger and freight service across the 17-mile wide strait to Bananaboat Island, being a 1500-acre land mass vaguely of that shape, but officially called Maple Island after its first European discoverer sailing on the brig Maple. Fifteen people were on the payroll. Ryan had been recruited to set and retrieve the passenger gangway, to drive on and off vehicles of nervous driver-passengers and to operate the forklift truck to load and offload freight. In between times he helped with maintenance and was presently helping to repaint the standby smaller ferry. The bi-monthly party had started at 8:30 on that Saturday night after the last ferry trip back from the island.

Miranda, who sold tickets and took freight bookings, joined the party again, a party dress now replaced by a tight-fitting wool-jersey dress that came eight inches below her hipbones but she wore ankle length tights of the same material under that, with a brown leather belt. She eventually gravitated to talk to Ryan and then pulled him on to the floor to dance with five other couples mostly doing a hash of the fox-trot.

"You are lovely and soft to hold and smell like a garden."

"Aren't you required to save that pretty talk for my mother?"

She was ignored.

"Actually it is a floral perfume. I'm surprised you noticed."

"You have beautiful shaped small tits."

"God Ryan, be careful. If my father hears you he'd knock the crap out of you and then break your leg. He's more protective about me than he is of mom. I'm sure he knows she's scraping up heaps on the side."

"Press your tits against my chest."

"I wasn't aware I had to be asked; I thought it just happened?"

She licked her lips as he pressed against her. "Not quite so hard -- dad needs to see a bit of daylight between us. God, is that a boner I can feel?"

"Yes."

"Do you really want to fuck me Ryan?"

"Yes."

"Oh god. Well then, we'll slip out the back at first opportunity and go to the standby ferry. Dad won't think of looking for us there.

"So you take other guys there?"

"Shut up Ryan. How gross."

They'd reached the backdoor in the laundry with Miranda holding a torch when Penny called, "Miranda, your behavior is unacceptable. Go to your room."

"We, er, were going to a walk to get fresh air."

"The air is fresh on the front porch Ryan. Don't be so pathetic and women hate men who lie."

"Oh, how interesting. I didn't know that."

"Off to your room darling. You may come out in twenty minutes."

"My I kiss Ryan first?"

"No."

Ryan called goodnight but Miranda didn't answer.

Penny locked the laundry door into the passage. She pulled off her dress and unleashed her big boobs and pulled Ryan's face into them.

"Fuck me."

"No," he said, pulling away. A searing pain zapped across his left cheek and he saw bright lights in front of his eyes. The bitch had whacked him!

Ryan sullenly dropped his trousers and underpants and worked his stiffening dick hard while Penny climbed up and sat forward on the laundry bench. He pushed straight in intending to hurt her with friction against her dry skin but the bitch was already oozing. Well, he wasn't going to enjoy this one little bit. He pulled in hard against the bitch, feeling her big tits pressing outwards under his armpits. Visualizing those squashed tits out on his sides like a life-vest seemed to make his cock go iron hard. He'd expected her cunt to be cavernous but it actually had his sliding dick in a firm embrace and then she dipped her serpent-like tongue into his mouth and from those sensations she began generating he began enjoying the best fuck in four years of being sexually active.

"Your are a great little fucker Ryan," Penny said, having lost her red-face after grunting like a seal left alone on rocks in pulsating release and he fired hugely over her fat belly and hairy cunt, his eyes almost gyrating. She pulled her half-acre size bra over her wobbles and on went her dress. She unlocked the door and returned to the party. Ryan was standing facing the door wiping his cock with a duster, trousers still around his ankles when he looked up and saw Miranda looking at him like a wounded doe. "You liar, you fucked her." She ran off.

Ryan went to the former fish-processing shed where he lived, packed his bag and began walking up the hill to the town, knowing a train came through around 1:00 and stopped for passengers on demand. He'd dirtied his comfortable nest so there was no point in staying. Penny would have no further interest in him and Miranda would act like a woman betrayed. Until now he hadn't realized women really didn't like men lying to them. Guys did it all the time to each other. You accepted it and worked on payback.

The train reached Marlow just after dawn and Ryan alighted there. He'd been told a few days ago chatting to a guy waiting for the ferry that fruit-picking would start in Marlow district in a couple of weeks. Ryan thought he could probably find fill-in work until securing a fruit-picking contract.

The 24/7 restaurant was open, all lights on, but appeared empty. A bottled blonde came out of a side room behind the counter rubbing her eyes and kicked awake a Chinese cook sprawled on a chair.

"Good morning sir, I recommend a ham steak, green friend tomatoes and two friend eggs."

"Okay Rosie, and a glass of milk."

She smiled and said her name was Sally. She fetched over his meal and sat down to play with her necklace. She was rather plump but the breasts she was almost playing with were well defined.

"Satisfied she had Ryan's attention she yawned and said, "I'm short of a night shift worker so have to do it myself as well as work day. Are you bumming around?"

"Yes."

"Like to come home with me and fill in here a few nights until my husband returns?"

"Yes. Does that mean I can sleep with you?"

"Yes, but don't think you'll have sex coming out of your ears. Most of the time you will be working when I'm sleeping and when you are working I'll be sleeping."

"Damn."

"But not all the time. There will be a 4-hour window at one end of your shift at 6:00 am and another 4-hour window before you start your shift."

"Sounds good. We could also go for walks and watch DVD's and do other stuff as well."

"How long do you take over sex?"

Ryan grinned at the tired-looking 35-year old. "As long as it takes."

Sally's eyes flickered in interest.

Sally was a good fuck. She preferred riding cowgirl and would sing away happily allowing Ryan to half-doze after coming off shift and would slap him on both thighs to attend to his responsibility if his cock began deflating. He only had to open his eyes and spot the flying tits to become hard again. It was a very cooperative affair. At the other end of the day he'd be revitalized and would energetically fuck the tired Sally to sleep. She just loved this arrangement but she was a jealous cow.

Two days before Sally's husband was due back from visiting his parents she received a telephone complaint at 4:00 am from a couple sleeping above a store that there was unbearable noise coming from the restaurant. She dressed and hurried down to investigate.

Ryan had been watching a DVD about river life in Central Africa not long after 2:00 when three drunken women had arrived, hungry and complaining to Ryan they'd left their husbands telling filthy stories to three wide-eyed young women.

"Guys who neglect three beauties like you need their heads read," Ryan said, and took their orders. He noted them whispering and looking at him as he gave Mr Lee the order docket.

Ryan had introduced himself as Ryan when first talking to the women. One of them now called, "Oh Ryan baby."

He went over and the 40-year old poked her finger under his nose. It smelt of pussy and the three of them giggled at his surprised expression. The one they called Jan slid her chair back and opening her legs wide, pulled up her dress and said, "Lick me Ryan."

All three women looked at him intently.

He swallowed.

All three began fingering themselves so he knew he had a compliant audience but thought it would take an awfully long time to do the rounds.

"Hey, all of you get on your backs across the counter and I'll triple dip."

The women shouted in excitement. Strip off completely, Ryan leered, and they were only too happy to oblige. He told Mr Lee to hold the orders and to either watch or go back to sleep. Old Mr Lee chose sleep.

It was an education for Ryan. One of the 40-somethings was hairy, one was clipped and one was hairless. It was the first time Ryan had seen a completely bald pussy on an adult woman. All three women, although drunk, appeared to be in pretty good shape so he doubted he could manage the full routine on all three of them. But he drew in a deep breath and waggled his shoulders, telling himself to give it his best shot.

He licked them, going from left to right and back again, about twenty seconds a shot, licking around the opening and then pocking deep with his tongue, and then repeating that rhythm. The trimmed one wanted a finger in her asshole but the other two screamed they didn't. They were now laughing and shouting and Mr Lee was shouting 'Shut up your whores' when Sally came running in.

Sally said sternly, "Ladies please be quiet and return to your table. Mr Lee please cook the meals."

She then pulled Ryan by the ear to the cash register, thrust some money into his hand and said, "You're fired. Collect your things from my house and disappear you ungrateful leach."

The ungrateful leach did what he was told, packed his backpacked and headed out into orchard country, severing the connection with Sally but found there was unfinished business. A car came up behind him and the driver tooted. It was Kate and Kimberly, two of the married women from the restaurant. Kimberly who was driving said they'd dropped Sarah-Ann off at her home and she was taking Kate home.

"Get in and come to my place," said Kate. Kim and I feel like a fuck.

Ryan didn't know about that but Kate said it would be fine so he climbed in and off they went with Kimberly saying, "We were just lamenting about missing out as you probably have a great cock. We normally are three good mothers but tonight we decided to cut loose when we saw we had potential with you."

"And you were drunk."

"Yes," Kate giggled.

They came to a little village and after Kimberley parked outside Kate's house, the women beginning stripping as soon as they entered through the front gate.

"My three kids are asleep so we'll just have to make do with the hardboards on the porch," Kate said. "At least Kim and I will have pillows from the chairs.

Neither woman showed any sign of touching each other. That rather disappointed Ryan because he'd seen DVDs of threesomes and thought it looked kind of cute. It looked very sweaty and messy, but kind of cute. He fucked Kimberly who told him to shoot up inside her and she then got dressed. Kate was much better and with her busy hands and disgusting talk and both women looked in awe when Kate was sprayed over her tits and face.

"Are you interested in fruit-picking?" Kimberley asked as Ryan was dressing.

"Yeah."

"Well you best come with me. We start plum picking tomorrow. Geoff when he gets home and has a few hours sleep will want to set out the equipment so you can help."

"Okay."

"Did I miss hearing a thank you?"

"Oh thank you Kimberly..."

"Uh-uh. It's Mrs Morris from now on. We don't wish to make Geoff suspicious."

"Oh thank you Kimberly. I had wanted to try my hand at fruit picking."

Ryan stayed eighteen days because in that second week another crop of plums were ripe and they then picked early apples.

Living conditions had been rather spartan and only guys were employed because Geoff had long ago learned the lesson and same-sex pickets work out better. Ryan never got close to Kimberly in all that time, much to his disappointment because after leaving Kate's house just before sunrise that day Kimberly had said with great interest that she must get him to spray her with cum. "It was one of the most revolting and yet exciting things I've seen for a long time and the look on Kate's face told me she'd gotten a better fuck that I did."

He moved along the orchard belt until the end of the season which quite good money in his pocket because he'd not been anywhere to spend it. The growers gave each picker two bottles of beer each evening, and that was enough for Ryan so he didn't go out with the guys drinking and whoring. He'd also found that if he sat on a rock alone after working hours of on the bank of a stream, within view of the house, usually a daughter or the wife would wander over to talk to him and would soon indicate the reason for her fraternization

With winter only weeks away Ryan decided to end his drifting for four or five months so went to a job-search agency and paid for a contact -- a boat builder wanting a general hand but experience was necessary. As Ryan had spent the previous winter working for a home furniture-maker he considered that experience. 

Colin Kingston the boat builder didn't really think furniture making was aligned experience until Ryan said he thought making kitchen cabinets was.

"You idiot, why didn't you say you built cabinets?"

"It was implied. Anyway it was fabrication work as everything was cut to size."

"That's what happens here. Paul and I don't trust you bums to cut anything to exact specs."

"Oh. Well perhaps I should say I worked for the ferry company servicing Bananaboat Island, driving a forklift and assisting loading freight and passengers and during off-time spray-painting the deckhouse and cabins of the standby ferry."

"Is that so. Then you better sign here and here and find yourself accommodation."

"May I sleep in the loft above the workshops and have meals with you and your family?"

Colin looked about to tell the upstart to get fucked, but then he scratched his groin and said, "The other guys will complain."

Ryan grinned. "Unable to crush complainants I suggest."

"You suggest nothing, so watch your mouth. At least you have a bit of fire in you. I'll ask Carolyn."

He called his wife. Carolyn took one look at Ryan and returned inside the nearby house, calling over her shoulder, "Approved."

She was skinny with a sharp face so Ryan thought she'd be safe from him sniffing around her. In a rather compelling manner, that negative thought was powerfully reinforced by Colin who placed a big, powerful mitt on Ryan's shoulder and he was told: "Horse around my wife or children and you will be found floating out to sea on the tide, your eyes frozen in terror."


Finding Family



"Sure boss. No worries boss."

Boss seemed satisfied, at least for the moment.

"Is this a full pay day?"

"Yes."

"Can I spend it tidying the loft and exercising rodent control?"

Colin said belligerently, "Who says my loft is untidy?"

"I've never seen one that isn't," Ryan said, having only ever seen two.

"Ah, well you did say you were experienced. I'll go into town to get some rodent traps and a bed and mattress."

"Make sure the bed is not squeaky. I'd hate to keep Mrs Kingston awake with the sound of me jerking off."

Colin sucked in breath and looked at his new man. And then grinned. "You might be a bit of an asset round here. You think good and take things to the brink, it would seem.

Ryan was then taken on a tour of the yard of Marlow-Kingston, boat-builders. The yard employed ten other men. Old Kevin Marlow drew plans, negotiated contracts, ordered in supplies and look after the coffee machine. If people wanted floors swept or windows cleaned they did it themselves. The placed looked a mess but Colin said, "We custom-build all-weather boats and I and some of the guys are master craftsmen so this yard attracts orders from clients as far as 500 miles away. Smaller commercial fishing boats are our forte in wood, aluminum or GRP (glass reinforced plastic)."

"Jesus, I'd thought a dump like this would only make row boats until I saw that 38-footer."

"This is the paint shop," Colin said, grinning.

An hour later Colin yelled from down below, "Lower the rope."

Ryan, covered in dust, ran to the far end of the loft, opened the double doors, and lowered the rope but freeing the ratchet mechanical of the hand-winch he'd inspected earlier. He looked down and saw Colin on the back of the pickup with a double bed and mattress, tallboy, big mirror and settee. Ryan winched them up and when the last object was hoisted Colin came up the ladder access.

"The stuff was cheap so the more I selected the bigger the discount the dealer gave me. For some fucking reason single beds cost more than this double bed with the heavy frame."

"Those heavy frames are currently unfashionable."

"Is that so. So you're telling me no one wanted it so the dealer was only too pleased to flick it off?"

"Oh, you would be too astute to taken for a ride."

Colin stared at Ryan who said, "Charge this stuff to my account and deduct 20% of the total cost per month against my pay."

"What about truck-running?"

"Oh yes, that too, and your time and you better charge me for the excruciating time it took Mrs Kingston to tell you where to go to get the stuff and then explain how to get there and get yourself back here."

Colin growled, "You're a candidate for a thick ear."

"If you wish to be hospitalized Colin go right ahead."

Colin, who weighed probably 220lbs, staggered around laughing. "God you are priceless," he choked. He then settled down and looked around in admiration.

"I won't deduct your pay. Just leave the stuff her when you go."

"Thank you Colin, very kind. Am I to believe you have a heart?"

Colin sighed. Come down for lunch. Carolyn has brought it over for you and me. Now when I lie to the guys no lip from you, okay?"

"Yes boss."

Ryan listened in astonishment when Colin told his partner and the men that they might notice Ryan getting a big of special treatment, like sleeping in the loft and having meals with Colin and family. "He's my nephew. Anyone wanting to complain should do it now or shut up on this matter for good. Okay who wants to complain?"

Everyone including Kevin Marlow studied what they were eating.

"Okay, welcome to the team Ryan. Do you want to say anything?"

"Just that I don't expect any preferential treatment from you guys. I guess this is a successful business because I didn't see any sunken boats at the end of the slipway."

Everyone stared at him without expression.

"Thank you for not clapping at my joke. Seriously guys, if you can bend a little and give me some pointers when I'm working I'd appreciate it. At present I'm as useless in boat building as a wet fart in a bottle."

The guys roared in laughter and conversations resumed.

After the guys left work for the day Ryan went down to the washroom and shaved and showered, hoping to not look like a misfit in the house. He dusted the new jeans and shirt he'd purchased and wore to his interview with Colin.

Ryan walked over to the house and a boy aged about ten yelled, "He's coming."

Mrs Kingston came to the door brushing her hands on her apron. "Hello and welcome I'm sure. Please call me Carolyn."

"I'll have to pass that by the boss. He might not approve and if he hears me calling you Carolyn he might bop me."

"Then he'd be bopped right back by my frying pan, wouldn't he? In this house I'm boss. You look nervous; Colin told me you have a mountain of character."

"Er, it's a family situation."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Er, I'm a sole orphan."

Carolyn said a little angrily, "That's enough of that stupid talk Ryan."

He hauled from his billfold a newspaper cutting of his father's car after being swept down into a river by a landslide. Ryan's parents and two sisters drowned but miraculously Ryan survived unharmed stated the report.

"Oh Ryan, you poor darling, Carolyn said on the verge of tears, hugging him. I am so sorry."

"It's okay. You weren't to know. Please don't tell anyone, not even Colin because I don't want special treatment from him."

"Well okay," Carolyn sniffed. "But already he's telling me you are special."

"I have a habit of making good first impressions Carolyn and then I tail off."

"Well at least that gives me something to work on. How old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

"That's twenty-six years younger than Colin and me. I thought you looked worldly but very young."

"Thank you. I guess you should be thanked for that."

Carolyn smiled and took him by the arm. The family was sitting at the table.

"Everyone, this is Ryan and he's to call me Carolyn. Colin you already know of course and this is our oldest Annie, who has just turned seventeen."

"Hello Ryan. You look nice. Welcome to the family."

"Thank you Annie. Wonderful hair."

The auburn-hair Annie flushed in embarrassment or possibly delight.

"Here with the grubby face is Paul our youngest. He's ten."

"Hi Paul. Everyone should call me Ryan. I'm twenty-two and come from 1500 miles from here. You were the spotter, weren't you Paul. You gave the alarm I was arriving."

"Yeah, I didn't know what to expect. You look cool."

"And this is our wild one, Shannon. She'd fourteen."

"Wild suggests character and Shannon will sort it all out when she knows what she wants to be. I stayed with a family for eighteen months and the daughter Felicity gave her mother hell but towards the end of my stay a guy took a friendly interest in her and urged her to watch him play soccer. She joined the women's team and only sat on the bench for one game and a bit. She came on ten minutes into the game and was so good she was in the playing side thereafter."

"Why are you reciting this? Is this supposed to be some sort of sermon?"

"Yeah, for your mom actually. Telling me and probably other people you are wild will only irritate you and that's the last thing you need."

"Listen to him Shannon," Annie said.

"Shut up."

"If you were in control of yourself you'd apologize Annie."

Annie looked at Ryan, her nostrils almost flaring. "Just who do you think you are?"

Just a homeless guy who doesn't believe you are a misfit. I've since been told that girl Felicity Stokes is destined to join the national women's soccer squad."

"What's the point? I don't play soccer."

"Well neither did Felicity until that guy pointed the way ahead for her in coming through a difficult period in growing up. It probably won't be soccer but it will be something, I'm prepared to bet on that."

"I've given up on music and only have skiing left as a real interest but I'm no good."

"Perhaps I can coach you."

"Oh, very clever. The season hasn't started and won't for a few weeks."

"Who said you need snow to concentrate on learning the basics and toning up. Do you run?"

"No, I hate it."

"What about swimming and horse-riding."

"Yes to both of them."

"Well we'll have to discuss that with your parents. Thank you everyone for giving Shannon and me time to talk uninterrupted."

"Annie, I apologize for being rude to you."

"Thank you Shannon. Much appreciated. We all ski and Ryan it sounds you ski well enough to coach?" 

"At high school I was on the school ski team and after I left school I received advanced coaching. I still ski whenever I can."

"Ryan, I want to thank you for taking an interest in Shannon as these are difficult times for her," Carolyn said. "I think she is responding to you already."

"Thank you but don't read into it what might not be there. Allow Shannon to call the tune."

"Sounds sensible talk to me," Colin said. May we eat? Obviously that's your place next to Paul."

"Tell us about your family, Annie asked.

"I don't really talk about them. We are disconnected."

"Oh that's so sad," Annie said.

Everyone looked at Carolyn who'd sniffed loudly.

"Oh I'm sorry. Something in my eye," she said running from the room. 

CHAPTER 2

Ryan's entry into boat building was seamless. He was good with his hands, was intelligent and took instructions and advice in deep concentration and was enthusiastic about almost everything he was asked to do. It didn't take the cabinetmaker to learn he had little to do to knock Ryan into shape. They worked on fitting out at 44-ft GRP boat in a cradle outside on the hard. The wife of the fisherman occasionally went out with her husband and two crew so required higher standard of finish and more amenities than usual.

"Two toilets -- it's a damn waste if you ask me," Paddy the cabinet-maker in charge of the fitting out complained.

"Her ladyship will require to sit her white ass on a seat not covered in fish gut and scales," Ryan said. Paddy laughed and said Ryan was all right. "You're not the boss's nephew because Kevin Marlow says Colin only has nieces."

Ryan thought the others had kept this quiet from Colin and him. "Paddy, keep this quiet will you. I'm the illegitimate son of one of his brothers."

"Colin only has one brother."

"Er, keep this very quiet. Colin will have your balls for pencil sharpeners if this gets out. I meant the son of his illegitimate brother that none of the family talks about."

"Hell, now I can understand your position -- the illegitimate son of an illegitimate son. That's really deep."

One evening after work Paul asked Ryan to come down to the riverside park to kick a ball around with him.

"How many soccer balls do you have?"

"Two. Well get them. I'll ask Shannon to come with us."

"She won't come."

"Get the balls champ."

Ryan found Shannon watching TV.

"Why aren't you doing homework?"

"Homework tonight is math. We circulate the answers as soon as we get to school in the morning. The agreement is we all make at least three errors."

Ryan grinned and said he used to be part of a similar Homework Mafia. "Come down and play ball."

"Nuh."

"How good is that program you're watching?"

"It's crap."

"Come down and play ball."

"Oh, all right."

Paul greeted them pragmatically. "How much did Ryan pay to get you down here?"

"Nothing, so shut your mouth."

"He's obvious a candidate for the Homework Mafia."

Shannon laughed and told Ryan he was funny.

"Right you two. Tonight we work on dribbling."

"I'm not playing soccer."

"Of course you're not. This ball work will teach you eye and foot coordination and get your feet working in unison to develop power and flexibility through repetitive action."

"What, for skiing? Fuck me, I wouldn't have thought that."

Paul said, "Don't let mom hear you using that word."

"Shut up."

"Shannon, apologize."

"Yeah, sorry for being rude Paul."

"It's okay. Morons speak like that."

Ryan turned away to hide his grin.

"He's only ten and already is a know-all little asshole."

"Weren't we all at that age?"

"Thank you. It's nice to know I am not the only person with a deficiency."

Ryan got Shannon underway and she was only just managing. She really had little idea, until Paul went by dribbling at almost full pace.

"That little asshole is showing me up."

"Well you've got a challenge on your hands. Go to it kid."

Forty minutes later when Ryan told them to pack it in, Shannon was holding back so Paul could keep up and believing she was performing flat out.

"God, Paul's almost run with off my feet and now look at him, dribbling up the hill at a run."

"He's fit and you're not. Want to have another think about indoor swimming?"

"Yes, yet I'd really like that. We'll take Paul and mom because the both like swimming."

They began swimming Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings. Annie joined them from the next Saturday and the Thursday after that Colin, feeling left out, completed the Kingston swim team and they'd end up have a game of something that resembled water polo.

Carolyn couldn't believe what was happening to her family. Instead of going in all directions they seemed to be as one in the SUV going to the pool and at the dinner table with no one in a hurry to leave the table. It was all driven by Ryan. He never seemed to run out of conversation and had everyone interested in even Paul's day at school because he had the knack of drawing Paul out, just as he was doing with Shannon. 

Initially Carolyn had been anxious at the pool with Annie in that skin-tight black swimsuit she wore. Ryan noticed, oh he noticed all right, but his behavior didn't change one iota and even when disputing possession of the ball Ryan avoided body contact with Annie but fought aggressively against her. Carolyn thought she ought to assist Ryan become involved with women his age

Over the following month five solo women called on Carolyn late afternoon and were invited to stay for dinner. Each time the guest sat next to Ryan and for a young guy he was extremely courteous and yet without displaying a flicker of interest. 

In bed the night of the fifth guest Carolyn found it necessary to advise Colin about her failed mission. He laughed.

"What's funny?"

"For starters Ryan will be a hot pussy guy and probably likes big handfuls of tit."

"Don't be so revolting."

"Then don't consult me. If you want to see reaction invite Sophie to dinner."

"Oh god no. She's my sister and she's married."

"But not adverse at putting it about, so I've heard."

"The liars, that's slander. Give me names!"

"The brotherhood forbids sharing such confidential information with women."

"What brotherhood, that's absolute bullshit," said the aroused Carolyn, switching her bedside light back on.

"Whatever you say dear."

"But why Sophie?"

"Even I'm interested in Sophie and you know I don't play around."

Carolyn said fiercely, "Do I?"

"Darling, turn the light off and go to sleep. When he's ready he'll pounce."

"Well this is what this is all about. I don't want him to pounce on Annie. God, she's only seventeen."

"What!" Colin said, switching on his light and sitting up wide-eyed. "Is he sniffing around Annie?"

"I don't think so, in fact I rather think not. But you must admit the potential is there."

"If he so much as..."

"Stop it Colin. You'll get yourself all excited, won't be able to go to sleep and will want to have sex all night. Wednesday is Sophie's free night as Gary baby-sits because he goes out Thursday night."

Colin turned his light off and yawned. "Well done. It will allow you to see the type of women you need to rope in to grab our boy's attention."

"Our boy?"

Colin yawned and said just a figure of speech. He and Ryan were relating so well.

Always one for the last word, Carolyn said, "I really can't see anything different happening. What has Sophie got that I haven't got."

"Your sister has more of it and is 10 year's younger, remember."

"Trust you to bring in age and big breasts."

Colin knew not to answer.

* * *

Wednesday was an unusually warm evening and Colin and Carolyn were on the front porch with their dinner guest having drinks. They saw Peter come around the corner first dribbling the soccer ball with considerable skill up the steep path.

"Peter is exhibiting good skills. He could scarcely kick the ball when I last saw him," 

Colin told Sophie that Peter was being coached at school but the big influence was Ryan.

"Oh yes, this orphan kid that Carolyn told me about."

Colin struck like a snake. "Orphan?"

"Oh Sophie," Carolyn said weakly.

"Ooops. Sorry sis. Big tits big mouth."

Carolyn told Colin about the family tragedy and Colin looked confused and said, "Why didn't he confide in me?"

"He told me on that first night he was here. I accidentally levered it out of him. He asked me not to tell you because he didn't want any more preferential treatment. Please don't let on you know otherwise he'll not trust me. I should not have told Sophie.

"Sorry darling. Oh here they come. Oh I say, those bumps on my niece's chest have grown."

"Quite a lot. She's actually in a sports bra."

"But Shannon is averse to sport."

"Well not now."

"And I can see why. Oh god guys, hold me down."

"Behave yourself Sophie," Colin smiled.

"Look, she's leaning on his shoulder."

"To fix the back of her sneaker," Carolyn said. "You'd do that if standing beside someone you knew, wouldn't you."

"I guess so."

They watched the two walking up the pathway and said hello to Peter who was told to shower and dress neatly.

"I must admit Shannon is interacting with him normally, very much like a buddy rather than, well, you know what teenage crushes are about."

Shannon's parents looked closely and saw nothing to give them concern.

"Ryan has her dribbling a soccer ball for more than half an hour, at speed and changing direction abruptly and to finish us they do four circuits of the field."

"You are talking about Shannon?"

Carolyn said yes of course. "It's to build Shannon up for the ski season. He's going to coach her."

"By dribbling a soccer ball?"

"I asked the same thing," Colin said. Ryan explained it sharpens Shannon's eye to leg coordination and will strengthen her ankles."

As the two came closer the women stared at the definite outline of Ryan's abs under his sweat-soaked top."

"Oh guys, I want him. Please let me have him."

Carolyn was sitting very close to Sophie and though she could feel her sister heating up.

"God, I bet he has such a sweet ass."

Carolyn swallowed as if expected her bile to rise. She looked at Colin who winked. Well her sister was providing to be an outright slut; at least Ryan would act with propriety. 

"Hi guys, Ryan this is my sister Sophie who is married with two little children." Carolyn felt an idiot adding the married with children piece but had felt morally obliged to do so.

"Hi Auntie Sophie."

"Hi Shannon," Sophie said, standing up and thrusting her front forward.

"Hi -- oh sweet Jesus," Ryan said, tripped and feel on to his face, Shannon acting incredibly swiftly just manage to pull back on his sleeveless top to break his fall.

Shannon asked sounding puzzled as she helped Ryan to his feet, "What did you trip on?"

"My own feet. My feet were going forward and I was turning to take another look at your aunt."

"What was the attraction?"

"Er, I best race over and have a shower and dress appropriately."

"Oh don't fuss about dressing for me honey," Sophie purred.

The coin dropped for Shannon and she said angrily, "You leave Ryan alone Aunt Sophie. You're married."

"Shannon!" Ryan said curtly.

She ran to him and her put an arm over her shoulder. As they walked away her parents and Sophie heard him say, "You failed to react appropriately -- that was the old Shannon. What were you supposed to do when feeling your aggression rising?"




Finding Family



"The new Shannon is required to take two deep breaths and think before responding."

"Good girl. Now tell me that again."

"God, he's training her to cope with her aggression and manipulative behavior," Carolyn said in awe. She was becoming worse at the time of his arrival and now I really do think there has been improvement."

"Oh what a darling he is," Sophie cooed. "And sports activity could be helping."

"I think so," Colin.

"Is this why I'm invited here for dinner... to divert him away from my nieces?"

"What the hell are you talking about -- how could such a thought occur to us," Colin lied. "But since you've mentioned your interest if you do go after him please keep it out of Shannon's sight. She is very impressionable and a little short-fused these days."

"What about Annie?"

"There appears to be no abnormal mutual attraction," Colin said. "And Annie has her boyfriend Arnold.

"Well like her mother she is rather flat-chested. It does nothing for some guys."

"Oh thank you darling," Carolyn sighed and Sophie said well it was the truth wasn't it? Some men were addicted to big boobs.

"Let's go inside as it's cooling down." Colin said. "Another drink?"

Throughout the evening Carolyn didn't see or hear anything untoward between Sophie and Ryan although she imagined she could feel the tension between those two. She was relieved that the association would collapse as soon as Sophie left but at least Carolyn now knew of the type of woman to find for Ryan -- unattached, charming with big boobs.

That belief that nothing would happen between Sophie and Ryan was short-lived. Sophie said good night to the girls and Paul who then went off to watch TV. Sophie then kissed Colin and thanked him for being the perfect host and then kissed and hugged her sister and thanked her for being such a perfect hostess and said the meal had been splendid.

"Now Ryan, how do I say goodnight to you?"

"A hot kiss wouldn't go amiss."

"I'm not sure what you mean," Sophie said, lying through her teeth.

"Body press, lisps slightly open and kissing me as if you really meant it."

"Ryan, I'm a mother and happily married woman."

"That doesn't mean you can have fun but I'm not worried because I know you'll do it."

"Well then, I guess I'm obliged to deliver. Pucker those lips."

Carolyn saw Colin roll her eyes and she then became a little breathless, watching the sexiest kiss she'd ever seen off the screen. She could hear Sophie's heavy breathing as she pulled away and her eyes were huge and greenly luminous. Blood would now be pumping to swell the breasts and pussy lips. Carolyn almost passed out and blamed the alcohol. 

Ryan said ever so casually, "I'll walk you to your car."

"Oh thank you darling."

* * * 

Carolyn called in on her 14-year old and found Shannon out on her balcony watching Ryan and Sophie down at her car. They were standing very close and as they watched Sophie put an arm around Ryan's neck.

"She's a slut."

Carolyn decided not to respond. Instead she said, "Does it hurt you seeing those two together like that?"

"They're going to be doing more than that. No, not really."

"Are you in love with Ryan?"

"Yes but mom don't tell anyone my secret. I know it's not love associated with sex."

"Big brother love?"

"Perhaps it's something in between. He's too old for me mom. I'd think just knowing I'm in love with him is sufficient. Aunt Sophie can grab all the sex she can from him."

"Tell me if it does begin to get out of control darling. Ryan is proving to be wonderful support for you and your father acknowledges that too."

"What dad knows I'm in love with Ryan?"

"Easy darling. I think your father considers you adore him. Just don't allow it to develop and everything will be all right."

* * *

Sophie appeared very interested when talking to Ryan beside her car that he didn't sleep in the house and began to quiver when told he slept in the loft above the central workshop.

"Oooh, can I have a look?"

"What now?"

"It's not late."

"Not too late for me to venture on a sight-seeing tour."

"Y-your sister might s-see us go inside."

"So?"

"Okay -- a quick in and out."

"Oh, how funny you should say that."

"Say what?"

"It doesn't matter. Jump in and we'll drive down. Let's not waste time. I have to be home by 11:00."

"Well that's okay, it's only just after 9:00."

"Please darling, don't be a pain. We are going to have a little play on your bed so get used to the idea."

They drove the short distance to the boatsheds.

"I have fancied fucking you from the moment I saw you."

"Oh have you?" Sophie yawned and that yawn should have told Ryan something but he missed it, being too focused on his dick getting an overdue outing.

Sophie flopped in to the bed. When Ryan with shaking fingers went to remove her top she said, "If you don't mind darling I'll keep my clothes on. I really don't like men slobbering over my breasts and please don't kiss me on the mouth.

Men? 

Well Ryan reasoned the way she went around wobbling her tits it was likely she had men anytime she wanted them. But no licking her tits and no kissing... what was left?

Sophie answered that for him, pulling her panties to one side, giving Ryan a view of two very long and fat outer lips, covered with thick, wiry-looking hair. He swallowed wondering what Sophie would say when she saw he was not hung like a horse.

"Don't play with me, I'm moist enough. Rub some spit on your dick just in case. Now don't go putting all you weight on me and no hot breath on my face."

Ten minutes later Sophie bucked and jerked and said that was enough.

Ryan asked angrily, "What about me."

"What about you and your small dick?"

"Nothing," he mumbled knowing he had a large dick that scared some women but he'd agreed it wasn't a monster."

"Would you like to shower Sophie?"

"No."

"Would you like coffee?"

"No. Goodbye Ryan. Thank you for your hospitality. I felt the need to get off and at least you managed to do that for me."

"Oh I'm so pleased," Ryan said sarcastically and received a warm smile in reply.

He pulled his pants on and took Sophie to her car. She ducked into it before he could kiss her and was off with a brief wave.

Ryan saw the kitchen lights were on in the house and glimpsed Carolyn doing the dishes alone. He went up to help and she was pleased to have some help.

"What no sex?" she smiled.

Ryan opened his mouth and thought perhaps he should not reply.

"Come on Ryan, I'm a little drunk and would like to hear just what a hot number my sister is in bed but obvious she gets off quickly."

Ryan almost dropped the pan he was drying.

"Come on Ryan. I really would like to know."

So he told her. Carolyn did drop a pan with a clatter when being told it was hairy and big enough to take a horse.

Carolyn leaned against the bench as if her knees had gone weak. She had her hand over her mouth to smoother the laughter.

"Oh, you poor darling. No kissing, not breast play, no hot breath and we didn't even take her pants off. It's a wonder you managed to get off."

"I didn't."

"Oh you poor darling. Here, allow me."

Carolyn had his zip down and was on her knees. Ryan was struck dumb so was unable to protest and his feeble efforts to push her away were countered effectively.

Ryan looked down and Carolyn looked up at him, big-eyed. Her blue eyes were smiling. He brushed her hair aside tenderly and she winked at him.

"I'm about to blow," he whispered hoarsely.

Carolyn was too slow retreating. She did pull her mouth off it, appearing very reluctant about that, and then to Ryan's horror took streams of cum over her mouth, nose and eyes and then ducking took the remainder into her hair.

"Oh god, you are not hung like a horse but you certainly ejaculate like one."

Ryan grabbed the kitchen towel and proudly began cleaning up his kneeling benefactor who had restored his feeling of manhood -- and given him relief.

"I shouldn't have done that but I'm glad I did. I love you Ryan. No, don't be alarmed. I love you like a mother. Any mother would have done that for her son, had he been in such real need."

Ryan thought oh yeah, wasn't she aware of male masturbation.

That was answered. Carolyn said, "Masturbation is I imagine a really unsatisfactory sequel when coming without release from an inhospitable vagina?"

Ryan almost shot another load over Carolyn. He helped her to her feet and kissed her lovingly over the mouth and then grunted, "I'll make coffee." He turned and looked at the door to the passage to the bedrooms and was relieved no one was standing there. They had taken a great risk not closing the door and pulling the kitchen table against it.

As Ryan was leaving Carolyn said, "Another of those great kisses please but for goodness sake don't let anyone see you kissing me like that."

He walked off cheerfully and wondered what Carolyn would be like to fuck. He grinned and told himself he really was a naughty guy.

* * *

Winter arrived. The public heated pool was closed for three months for maintenance. Although the boatshed crew worked Saturday mornings if conditions were right Colin would bundle the family and Ryan into the SUV and they'd head for one of the nearby ski fields. 

There appeared to be little to separate the skiing ability between Colin, Carolyn, Annie and Ryan who were all experienced. Shannon and Paul did their best to keep up and to Shannon's dismay Paul was showing signs of out-skiing her and signs of uncontrolled aggression began to appear.

"Don't let it get to you Shannon. Paul is one of those lucky guys who's a natural at sport. You are one of those in the middle group who with good coaching and self-discipline along with the desire to learn will master it. Those in the other group are designed to forever practice pulling themselves up from successive falls."

"Do you promise you'd make a skier out of them?"

"Yes."

Ignoring her family grouped around them, Shannon kissed Ryan on the lips.

"Shannon!"

"It's nothing Ryan. I'm just bonding to you as my ski guru. Unless I believe in you I will fail."

"I'm sorry guys," Ryan said, shrugging helplessly.

"Who'd want to be kissed by Shannon," Paul sniggered. 

Annie and her father just stared at Shannon but Carolyn adopted an intelligent albeit risky approach. "Kiss him again Shannon; Ryan doesn't appear committed to you."

The family glanced at Carolyn in surprise and then Shannon kissed Ryan again and he set everyone laughing when he said, "You ought to get Annie or your mother to give you kissing coaching. Your technique lacks passion."

Annie giggled and said, "You better be the tutor mom. If I start kissing Shannon we may fall in love."

"Oh yuk," said Peter. "Can we ski?"

"Not you Shannon," Ryan said. "We're moving to the learner's slope."

"Me too?" asked Peter.

"Yes buddy. It will be good to have you challenging Shannon, just as she did with dribbling the soccer ball."

"But she won't beat me at skiing."

"Afraid so buddy. Shannon has the potential of being the best skier in the family."

"Better than even dad?" Shannon asked in disbelief.

"Yes heaps better. Come on your two," Ryan said skiing off to the learner's slope.

That left Colin, Carolyn and Annie discussing how could Ryan possible know that.

"It's bullshit," Annie said. "Just because he'd good a fitting out boats and soccer it doesn't mean he knows about ski instructing."

Carolyn said loyally, "I don't think Ryan would say what he didn't believe."

"Annie if you want an assessment ask Rolf Hagen to invite Ryan to race down Hammerhill with him," said her father. "He's here today."

When the family was in the café for lunch Annie brought over Rolf who knew her parents and introduced him to Shannon and said, "This is Ryan Boswell who's done a bit of ski instruction."

"Oh hi Ryan. Where did you instruct?"

"I returned to my old school, called up when their coach fell ill. I'd been the school's top skier so the request was understandable. I instructed at Mt Olsen under the great Sam Shepherd for three seasons."

"Oh Sam the Man?"

"Perhaps you two should do a run together some time and see who's top guy," Annie said to the unsuspecting Rolf.

"Sure I'd like that."

"Yeah, let's do it some time," said the equally unsuspecting Ryan.

Annie said casually, why not today, down Hammerhill?"

"Do you know Hammerhill?"

"I've looked at it a couple of times and have studied the map."

"The bluff looks technically challenging."

"Yeah, but not enough depth of snow yet to cover all the rocks."

"But there is snow between the rocks?"

"Yeah. But that's extreme high risk."

"Well say the word Rolf."

"Look, if you feel up to it we can go now. I'll grab three more guys and we can close Hammerhill for a downhill race and provide a bit of lunchtime entertainment. People in here and in the main restaurant can see skiers coming around the bluff. It's head-on from here and looks quite spectacular. I'll be back in a couple of minutes."

"So you really want to do this?" Colin asked. "It could spoil your lunch."

"Shut up dad," Annie said. "He doesn't have to win. Just competing is enough. I've suspected Ryan is a lot better than he's indicated."

Rolf returned carrying a green and white ski jacket. "Here Ryan put this on and your family will identify you easier than in plain gray.

"Thanks but they're not..."

"His family will be screaming in support," Shannon said stoutly.

"Yeah," Peter and Annie echoed. Colin and Carolyn looked at each other and smiled.

As the men were walking away an announcement over the speakers stated Hammerhill would be closing in ten minutes for a special event. Annie yelled, "Assess the bluff Ryan. You get a good look at it from the chairlift."

He waved. Carolyn screamed "No" and he waved again.

"Did he hear me," Carolyn gasped.

"What does it matter mom?" said Shannon. "He won't do it if the risk is too high. Ryan's smart, cheeky and slick but we cannot call him stupid."

Ryan had no reason to take on the bluff because coming up to it he was 50 yards ahead of Rolf and the other three were around 150 yards behind Rolf in a tight group.

Carolyn watched Shannon bursting with pride when they heard someone standing at the next table and looking through the floor to ceiling windows at the racers, "Who is this guy? Rolf has never been beaten on Hammerhill."

"Rolf will have to take on the bluff to beat him," Annie said excitedly but Paul said no show of that happening because Ryan would reach the bluff first.

"Oh no," Carolyn said, grabbing Colin for support.

The room watched in silence and from way out Ryan lined up the bluff and took off so fast that he soared and landed a good five feet clear of the rocks. Rolf followed and landed almost in the identical spot and finished at the end of the slope second, shaking Ryan's hand. There was a buzz of conversations as everyone watched the three highly competitive skiers come on to the steep curving downhill flanking the bluff and they finished with only feet separating each of them.

Rolf arrived back arm around Ryan beaming. He yelled, "This is Ryan Boswell, who spent two winters in New Zealand with our national junior ski squad a few years back. Isn't he a killer?"

Everyone clapped, the loudest clapping and cheering coming from the Kingston's table. The family was so proud.

"I wonder what else we don't know about him," Colin mused. They all stared at Ryan.

Ryan worked all winter on Shannon and Peter. Initially Shannon was frustrated at Peter's accelerating improvement and Ryan kept telling her to keep believing in herself, that Peter was about raw grunt and some technical skills whereas she was being taken along the slower path with emphasis on technical skills.

Towards the end of the season Peter reluctantly got used to Shannon passing her and then one day Rolf standing with Carolyn watched her coming down on the novice's slalom and said, "Shannon should be booked in with Elizabeth the chief coach for the start of next season. Your daughter has the potential to make it big. She's started very late, which is a disadvantage but it appears Ryan has clawed most of that loss back. Shannon is good, really good Carolyn."

"As good as Annie?"

"Right now, yes, every bit as good. But Annie has reached the end of the road. For Shannon, there's no end in sight." 

"Oh god, please take her aside and tell her Rolf. We have been trying desperately to find something she's good at to help pull her through her growing pains. We can thank Ryan for this. When he said he saw skiing potential in Shannon we all looked at him in disbelief."

"Is Ryan your adopted son?"

"Yes," Carolyn said without considering she was lying. Well, Ryan had adopted them.

* * *

Ryan had become a valued member of the team at the yard. He'd honed skills at fitting out boats and was now quick, precise and there was little around the yard he couldn't do. He even had taken a keen interest in marine engineering but stopped short of learning to weld aluminum, saying that difficult job was not for him.

At the weather warmed Ryan learned to water ski and Carolyn taught him to sail a yacht. The whole family took to the water at every opportunity and the fitness swimming at the pool switched to swimming out from the boatyard in the wide estuary. Being so involved with the sea and river was a new experience for Ryan as he'd grown up far inland of the sea. Annie's boyfriend taught him to surf and they'd go off on surfing trips and Annie found the older sister of one of her friends who was big into surfing and Anna paired up with Ryan and to his delight he found Anna was also big into fucking. 

The yard worked extended hours doing repair jobs resulting from marine mishaps through over exuberance, drunkenness or failing to maintain proper watch by the skippers. Sometimes some of the men worked through the night to get a damaged craft back in the water, providing the owner was prepared to pay through the nose. 

CHAPTER 3

By summer Ryan was being paid as a leading hand and for the first time in his life felt he was financially secured. Then he received a letter saying his maternal grandmother had died after a very long illness and to forward the name of his attorney. He gave them the name of Colin's attorney and was called in to learn of his inheritance. Granny had told him years earlier he would end up as her only beneficiary and that proved to be the case.

"Eight hundred and eight-nine thousand dollars?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes," said the attorney. "That is my estimate of the net amount to be paid into your bank account."

"I don't have a bank account."

"We'll open one for you or invest the money for you." 

Ryan said he would be in touch within forty-eight hours.

After dinner that evening Ryan spoke to Colin and Carolyn that he'd come in to some money and that was the reason why he'd cycled into town.

"How much would it cost to buy in as a partner?"

"I don't want another partner."

"Oh Colin!"

"But Kevin may be interested in selling out but perhaps we could convince him to stay on, on salary. Want me to check it out with him?"

Colin made the call and Kevin didn't know what to do so Colin said it would give Kevin a cash fund and he could take his children and grandchildren on holidays. That interested Kevin and he said he'd take $300,000."

"Well I don't know how much the boy had inherited but we don't need to know. We just want to know your price. You and I both know this land if we shifted out would fetch at least $2 million. Yes I know we are not shifting out. So what's a fair price? $375,000? Okay, think about it and we'll talk to you tomorrow. No Kevin, wait until tomorrow and have a good think about it. Perhaps you should call your attorney."




Finding Family



Colin said, "Sounds like $375,000. If your inheritance doesn't stretch that far I could borrow money to help you out."

"No it's fine. You said the other day we could do with a $50,000 retooling. Is that what it would cost?"

"About that."

"What say I loan you that money, interest-free for three years?"

"No, I'd want to pay interest."

"Well I don't want you to pay me interest. You guys have been more than good to me."

Two days later papers were signed, making Ryan a 49% partner in the yard for which he paid $375,000 to Kevin and Kevin stayed on working for a salary.

Ryan then gave Colin a check and papers were signed for that interest-free loan for $50,000.

The remainder of Ryan's money was placed in secured investments with $10,000 going into his new bank account.

At a party with some of his new surfing friends, Anna told Ryan her grandmother had given her money and she was leaving on a surfing safari along California and into Mexico. You will remember Kendra, she is interested in replacing me as your occasional girlfriend."

"Yes I do. Hi Kendra," Ryan said, embarrassing the 20-year old by staring at her tits. They were awesome.

Kendra proved to be a dream. She worked in a medical center and had her own car and was soon sleeping at least three nights a week with Ryan in the loft and occasionally had dinner with his family. Kendra had no problem with her tits being licked and her nipples plucked and she just adored having her cunt licked until she gushed, screaming into a pillow over her face. 

Being a surfer she was fit and was keen about most positions and that rather surprised Ryan because she was rather quiet and inclined to exclude him when slipping into introspective thoughts. It surprised him even more when after her persuaded her to offer him her ass she went on to declare her favorite recreation was doggy to be immediately followed by ass in doggy position. That suited Ryan just fine and they became best of friends; Kendra's older fiancé was in France studying for an advanced medical qualification in eye surgery.

In mid-autumn when Kendra was back with her fiancé, Ryan was tearing out old pages in his notebook when he came across Miranda Manson's phone number. He recalled working with the ferry company with pleasure and how it ended after Miranda's distress at finding Ryan had just fucked her mother after promising he wouldn't do it. He grinned, thinking he was such a skunk, and tossed the torn out page at the bin. It missed. He picked it up, read Miranda's name again and decided to give her a call, knowing her sexy old trout of a mom would probably answer.

"Miranda Manson speaking."

"Hi, its Ryan Boswell."

He heard her breathing deepen."

"Are you going to throw down the phone or talk?"

"I'll talk. How are you scumbag?"

"Very well, is you pussy in good shape?"

There was brief silence before she giggled and said she'd never been asked that in all her life.

"I've been working about 200 miles away from you and now am a leading hand at fitting out new boats...total fitting out I mean."

"Well that's a step-up from here. Why are you calling?"

"I was thinking of your pussy?"

"Liar."

"Well here's the truth. I was tossing away old pages from a contact notebook and your number came up. I felt guilty as fuck having been ramming you mother instead of you and hoped time had eased your anger at me and I then began all soft and sentimental and decided to give you a call."

"I'm glad you did. I still have a thing going for you Ryan Boswell."

"Go on."

"Regard it as a lie. That's all I'm saying."

"How old are you now, sixteen?"

"Oh very funny. I'm twenty and I do have a boyfriend but if you're intending to come back here that could be changed."

"Are you serious."

"Just a moment Ryan. I'll talk to dad. I have an idea...don't cut the call."

Ryan could hear talking in the background so held on patiently. Miranda returned to the phone.

"Dad has purchased a replacement ferry in Hong Kong -- a 163ft steel hull passenger-car ferry with a 42ft beam with a service speed of 16.4 knots. It carries up to 200 passengers and 35 cars, reduced for trucks restricted to 10 tons tare weight. He and I are going to Hong Kong at the end of next month to bring her home along with Ted Willis who is unhappy about going. We'll have a charter skipper. Delilah 1V has been fully surveyed and is having upgrading work done on her now. We are bringing her back late next month, as that's usually the window before the winter gales start. We'll be island hopping and have allocated a full month for the voyage to allow for staying over at ports should weather not be favorable. Dad says he's agreeable to you taking Ted Willis's place and help with the upgrading of the passenger deck eight hours a day. He'll pay you $150 as day from sailing day to final docking day and airfare and hotel accommodation will be paid."

"If I were to take you guys up on this could I sleep with you?"

"I'd think so but would need to check you out first. You'll need to come over to talk to dad. He asks that you bring some photos of your fitting out work."

Colin was agreeable for him going and said Ryan's salary would not be paid for that month but his profit-sharing agreement would not be affected.

Carolyn didn't want him to go saying ferries were notoriously bad boats in open seas or stormy straits.

"Check out whether she has water ballast tanks fitted," Ryan advised.

* * *

Ryan planned to hire a car but Colin said to take the pickup. He left at 5:00 and hoped to be back that night.

Carolyn came out in her gown to kiss him goodbye.

"This Miranda -- you talk about her with care. She must be very nice."

"She is and she found I had fucked her mother during a party at their home."

"Oh Ryan, you guys really need your dicks locked away. So obviously she is prepared to give you another chance."

"Yes."

"Well don't spoil it. Is she the one?"

"I can't be sure. You never can be with women."

"Oh, we are learning the lessons of life are we? Goodbye darling. Keep safe and return home happy."

Ryan gave her the full-on kiss she was after.

Ralph Manson looked Ryan over and grunted, "You've grown. Good to see you again." Penny standing beside him said, "Welcome back and kissed him without enthusiasm. 

Then it was sunshine -- Miranda rushed out and hugged him strongly but didn't kiss him. She was excited and welcomed him very warmly. "God, you have grown into a man."

"And I like the look of you," he said, eyeing the tits that appeared to have grown into women's size.

Miranda blushed when seeing where he was looked and turned scarlet when he waxed, "You have become so beautiful." She teetered for a moment, appearing almost ready to run to partly hide behind her mother. Ryan knew that was just his mind ducking and twisting on him. God, a month on the new ferry fucking her each day and each night until her eyeballs were out on stalks. Oh yummy.

Miranda ran off to get coffee.

"If you go on this delivery voyage I want you to behave decently to my daughter at all times."

Ryan had no idea what Penny meant by that but knew how to answer. "Yes ma'am." Penny looked satisfied.

"Fetch a laptop please Penny and we'll have a look at my fit-out work," Ryan said with authority.

Penny looked at if she was thinking about slapping him but walked off without a word.

On the memory stick Ryan had loaded copies of low-rez film clips sent to clients explaining work he still had to do in the gallery in one instance and in the wheelhouse in another.

They then looked at still photos.

"Is this all your own work?" Ralph asked. 

"Yes Ralph," there was no point loading anyone else's work. Our master craftsman cut some of the partitions to size and he made all the drawers and cupboard doors but I have done some of that work myself under his tutelage. I worked alone on assembling and getting everything positioned straight and true. In small spaces small errors appear to the eye as huge errors."

Ralph nodded with understanding while Penny yawned and Miranda kept glancing at Ryan proudly. He concluded by showing the fly bridge of a 45 ft launch. "There are eight shots here from the bare bones to various angles of the finished job. I did everything you see apart from the wiring you can't see."

"By George, that's magnificent," Ralph said. "Are you signing on?"

"Yes."

"It will be crude because she's a day ferry, no sleeping accommodation except for a bunk in the wheelhouse. We are going up a week early for last minute checks, complete paperwork, drills and get all clearances and, of course, for short shakedown cruises. We'll have steel beds welded to the vehicle deck and crude partitions erected."

"No, that deck will be draughty," Ryan said. "I'll get some fittings made and will lift matting and bolt the fittings through the wood decking and then attach the beds to the fittings. Give me a day and I'll convert the bar into a full kitchen. No use spending up to a month cooking on a primitive gas stove. We must also set up a temporary shower. That can go on the vehicle deck. We should also set up table tennis on that deck, bolted down of course and bolt an exercise cycle to the deck."

"You have some pretty good ideas for a young guy. None of that should cost too much. Let's have a look at the plans and photographs of the ferry and I'll tell you about refitting the passenger area. I want the façade of the bar redesigned. You know, I'd like the wheelhouse to be totally re-fitted and upgraded."

"Not good doing that at sea when the craft is underway. We don't want to cut out instrumentation when out in the open ocean. How much does she draw?"

"Ten point two feet."

"No problem. We'll book her into our yard and I'll do the work there, grounding here and propping her. We've had a 120ft fishing boat there but another 43ft will be a record. We might get you in the newspaper and get some publicity for Bananaboat Island." 

"I'll think about that."

"We do have a price schedule for mates."

"Oh, mates rates? Then I'm thinking positively about getting that work done. Well have this girl in service for many, many years so may as well launch her into service with all work done."

"Miranda wants to sleep with me on the delivery voyage. Any problems with that?"

Miranda looked at Ryan murderously. Her mother said "Yes, a total objection" and her father said that was okay with him. If Miranda didn't know what she wanted at the age of twenty it would be a sign of bad parenting."

"Sorry Penny, it would appear you are outvoted as the Miranda is in favor."

"I'm astounded you brought this up," Miranda said hotly. "There was no need to bring mom into this. I was going to work on dad once we were in Hong Kong."

"Miranda, I couldn't be involved in you doing anything sneaky on your parents."

"I... I... er no, you are quite right Ryan. Mother please say it's okay with you. Come on, don't be mean."

"Oh all right. I call recall being so frustrated at the age of twenty because I wasn't getting enough."

"Mother!" 

Ralph became practical. "Well that saves costs on our hotel accommodation in Hong Kong as Miranda and Ryan can share a room. We have recruited a skipper and engineer-electrician in Hong Kong. The vessel has twin diesel engines, which means, apart from fuel contamination, one engine keeps the ferry service going at reduced speed. We also have bow thrusters."

"It sounds an expensive investment Ralph."

"Viewed my way it's cheap -- only seven years old and I'm saving over a million bucks on an equivalent new vessel. At a working speed of just over 16 knots she was too slow to attract most buyers and then I came along. The owners wanted cash to pay off debt on their larger replacement vessel so paid for me to go to Hong Kong to inspect her. I was able to get a brilliant deal."

Penny sniffed and said she was off to prepare lunch. "Come along an assist Miranda."

Ralph poured fresh coffee. "Keep this to yourself young man. I dare not tell the women. The delivery voyage captain that has been recruited on my behalf is a 45-year old blonde Swedish divorcee. I have full ocean-going qualifications for a vessel in this category and we shall be sharing the wheel. I'm hoping to be in command at times with her sitting on my lap, helping to keep a good look out."

"Oh, yum, yum for you."

The guys chortled and waved at the women starting at them through the kitchen window.

* * *

The party dropped off their luggage and went off to inspect the ferry and after booking into the hotel they all had their own agendas.

Ryan met Miranda in their hotel restaurant right on time. He was tired, from jet lag, and had been out again ordering materials for delivery to the ferry. Miranda was mad.

"That dirty bitch has been locked in their room for at least two hours with my father. I wondered why he'd reduced the rooms to two."

"Your scumbag father could have locked the poor innocent skipper in the room with him."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this."

"Well you can imagine your father's delight in finding he was expecting to --share his suite with a male captain and it turned out the skipper was female?"

"Y-e-s, I suppose so."

"And that she's still sexy at that age and was delighted he was eyeing her."

"I-I suppose so."

"And really it's none of our business."

"You are beginning to anger me Ryan."

"Tell me what you plan to do. At I see it you can phone home and complain or organize a mutiny?"

"I-I..."

"It doesn't matter. Are you looking forward to sleeping with me?"

"Yes of course. You flew out of the room again so fast and so soon after we were shown into it that I thought you must have gotten pussy fright?"

"Got what?"

Miranda giggled. "You heard."

Ryan dropped to his knees and crawled under the table.

"Ryan, get back here instantly. God, you'll get us thrown out of this hotel."

Miranda felt her knees being forced apart. She resisted but he was so strong she submitted, rather than have her legs bruised.

"Oh god," she murmured as her pussy was licked over her panties.

Ryan crawled back out grinning and said, "Does that suggest I have pussy fright. I told you I had to buy tools and supplies and have them delivered to the ferry and be there to accept delivery."

"Yes you did."

"Actually I was rather pleased. The engineer-electrician is living on board and acting as night watchman. He's about your father's age and is Scottish. I guess they will share the skipper."

"Ryan."

"While as deckhand and fit-out specialist I have exclusive sex with the chef."

"Oh darling. What did you think of our new ferry?"

"Bigger and more pugnacious than what I had expected."

"I don't understand."

"Well big means..."

"You fool, I meant what does pugnacious mean in that context?"

"It has aggressive, workmanlike lines, making it almost a him ship rather than a she."

"All ships are she."

"I know smarty pants; I did say almost."

"You did."

"Baby, let's just have the one course and then go to our room. We can go out later for more food."

"Oooh, that sounds an excellent idea."

* * *

Miranda came out of the bathroom dressed only in hold-up stockings. The sight of the laced tops of the black near-sheer stockings created such an impact on Ryan that he almost ejaculated although his cock was still at a dangle.

"You look gorgeous, darling one. You are exhibiting such a femininely attractive figure. You know this is the first time I have seen you nude."

"Oooh."

"Your cunt looks small. I'm worried about entry."

"Ryan, for goodness sake. Please slow down. Off to the bathroom and come back and treat me like a lady."

Lover boy returned after a quick shower. His dick was fully erect. Miranda eyed it.

"Oh god, I may be too small."

"Relax darling...daddy knows your charming little hole will expand sufficiently to take every bit that daddy has for you."

"Oooh."

Miranda was resting on her side, legs curled up slightly. Ryan eyed the tit he could see, now drooping because her head was resting on her hand and forearm. The nipple was up like a bullet. He wondered had she been fingering while he was in the bathroom, excitedly getting lubed for the entry. The sight of her curved back was erotic as where her uppermost hip and then he saw the bloated pussy lips between the back of her thighs. He almost stumbled and he drooled.

Wiping his mouth Ryan asked, "All right darling."

"Yes and I'm very excited. I hope you are really good at fucking Ryan... I've often thought about you and me."

"You're not a virgin are you?"

"Of course not. God you men have this quaint idea that only men put it about."

Ryan jumped on to the bed, bouncing her.

"Oh god, don't over excited me Ryan. Start with kisses. May I hold it?"

"Of course you can."

"I won't kiss it this first time, I'm too excited."

Kiss? Ryan hoped she meant suck. She was nervous; he should allow her to set the pace.

They kissed until they were dribbling, their tongues apparently intend on becoming one when Miranda pushed him on to his back, straddled him and began pushing in his cock.

He was about to cry hold you, she best make it wet if they were expecting a tight fit. But then he felt pussy juice drip just clear of the hair around his balls. Ah, she was more than ready.

"Am I doing this right?"

Ryan sighed and wondered just how experienced was she. "How many times have you been fucked?"

"Five."

"Oh, sorry. Yes you are performing magnificently. Just slowly sink down on it, taking rests whenever you feel uncomfortable and your vagina walls will adjust. You appear to be lovely moist."

"I thought it best to prepare by playing with my pussy."

"Good girl," Ryan wheezed, closing his eyes and thinking about bent over the ferry's railing and being violently sick over it's hull, turning the ferocious sea yellow.

Crisis over. He breathed easier and a few seconds later asked innocently, "What are these?"

"They have grown quite a bit since you last saw the outline of them. Here we go." Miranda sat down hard and right up against him. "God, this is what a stuffed Christmas turkey must feel like."

Ryan's mind had him rushing to the side of the ferry to make the sea yellow again with traces of steak and pastry from the apple pie.

Crisis over.

Ryan massaged the tits while Miranda bounced cheerfully and only had to push it back in a couple of times after becoming a little too athletic. Ryan watched her lips swell, her face turned a darker color and then her lips parted. Her breathing took on a rasp. Then her face contorted, her head went back and she screamed, "Oh fuck, I'm coming. Oh fuck... jeepers, jeepers, jeepers..." She then collapsed on him.

"Oh Ryan, that was so wonderful. I must clean up."

"No, stay there and I'll hug you into a nap."

"Oh Ryan, how mean of me. You haven't shot your load... at least I think that's how men say it."

"It doesn't matter."

They fell asleep in their embrace.

The ferry proved surprisingly seaworthy but they chose to have two island stopovers to wait for storms pass through. That allowed Astrid the skipper and Miranda to work on their sun tans until the storms hit, Mac the Scottish engineer spent the time ashore visiting bars and Ralph worked most of his time as a general hand assisting Ryan.

On the last day of their last stopover as the storm cleared Ralph and Miranda chartered a fishing boat and went out fishing for the day, taking the owners of the hotel they had been staying with. Ryan declined to go saying he would be fitting the last of the glass on the back walls of the bar, being used as the kitchen, and it was pointless missing the opportunity of completing that work in calm water. Astrid said she would stay beside the hotel pool and read and Mac said he wanted to tour the bars saying goodbye to his friends.




Finding Family



Just after 10:00 Astrid came aboard unexpectedly.

"I've come to help."

"What in that bikini?'

"Oh, if it's inappropriate dress for carpentry I'll take it off," Astrid said, removing her top to allow her heavy hangers to droop.

Ryan swallowed. "Is this meant to be a seduction?"

"Oh clever boy," Astrid said, thrusting her tongue tip out between her teeth.

"I have work to do."

"I'll help."

"What dressed like that?"

"No I'll remove my brief because being white I don't want it to get dirty."

Ryan made her wear Miranda's kitchen apron and gloves because they were handing glass and fetched a pair of his sneakers for her.

"You hold and I screw."

"Oooh."

He had to grin.

Gradually Ryan's resentment at her audacity at coming aboard to attempt to fuck him evaporated. She'd turned the music up much louder and hummed away and whenever he glanced at her she just smiled, making no attempt to move in on him.

He relaxed even more.

They stopped for coffee and Astrid said, "You should take a taste of me Ryan."

He was in shorts and she was completely nude, legs spread.

Ryan looked at it and said, "Shaven I see and it looks to be well-used."

"Using it is my hobby," she said, making no mention that Ralph and Mac were using it regularly. Ryan gave for a tick for that.

When they were back working Ryan asked, "Why do you think I should take a taste of you?"

"Don't get my wrong Ryan, Miranda is a lovely girl and she is nuts on you and your eyes have trouble leaving her. These things I notice. But she is a girl. You need to bed a woman occasionally, especially an athletic one like me. My ass is available if that appeals."

"Quiet, I'm screwing," Ryan joked and Astrid, who'd attended high school in England and college in America, understood the idiom and laughed. 

"You are a funny man. We go fast and finish this and then fuck and then go ashore, yes?"

"Yes."

"Oooh, that is good."

"Let's pick up the pace Astrid. Tell my about your sexual experiences."

Two hours later they were finished.

"I'm sweaty, we should shower," Ryan said.

"We are going to get a lot sweatier than this," Astrid said, closing his mouth over Ryan's. She pushed his hand at her cunt.

The fishing party returned a large amount of their catch was processed, bagged and Ralph stored it about in the freezer, placing some in the fridge.

Miranda came over in her bikini and found Astrid and Ryan reading. She kissed them both and said they'd had a great time fishing and had seen a huge marlin.

Ryan went swimming with Miranda and when they were resting at the far end of the pool Miranda asked, "Did you fuck her."

"Yes."

"I thought you would as I knew what was on her mind. Even before we left she was glancing out into the bay at Delilah."

"I..."

"There is no need to apologize. Even if we marry I won't be averse to you having an occasional -- and I say occasional one night stand."

"I was attempting to say I wouldn't apologize. It was just something waiting to happen and being a man of course in that respect I am weak."

"Oh god, what a cop out!" Miranda laughed. "The truth is I didn't mind because Astrid is all woman and I knew she wanted you because she fucks as a hobby. She told me that. I also thought the experience would please you."

"She told me when she saw you guys arriving back that your father is very good."

"Oh darling, I really don't think that is something you tell a daughter or a wife."

"Sorry."

"Don't be. Mom will be delighted if he'd racked up his interest in sex. How good is mom compared with me?"

"Darling, you are still only an apprentice. In answer to your question I really don't think that is something you tell a daughter."

"You jerk. Tell me!"

"For me your mother was unspectacular. It's called bam, bam -- thank you ma'am."

"Oh, then what do you say about me."

"You are coming along fine. Would you like me to give little suggestions as we pound away?"

"Yes please darling. I want to be a good fucker for you."

They returned to Astrid. She stretched languidly and said, "Mac phoned and he's back on board and in reasonable shape so will sleep for four hours and at dark will become night watchman. He'll then sleep through tomorrow once we are underway."

"Oh that's good, you can stay ashore tonight Ryan," Miranda said.

"Oh yeah."

"Pam and Bruce are hosting us at dinner tonight as it's their custom to farewell what they call 'couth sailors'," Astrid said. "Well have a right royal time. Do you guys want to sleep with me?"

Before Ryan could say no his little innocent said, "Oh yes please Astrid, I'd like to see you in action."

Astrid licked her lips. "Well look when you can darling but you won't see much when I'm chewing out your pussy and butt."

"Oooh," said Miranda, fighting the biggest blush of her life.

CHAPTER 4

Ralph radioed Bananaboat Island to announce their arrival time as 8:00 the next morning.

Delilah entered the channel, flags flying and whistle and siren going, and islanders and visitors lined the foreshore and wharf to wave and cheer as the vessel went by. Astrid turned and sailed closer to the shore ferry terminal where Penny was bought out on a small workboat to join them for the journey to the boatyard only eight-five miles away by sea. Delilah towed the workboat that would bring the family and Mac back to the ferry base. Mac would be staying on permanently as engineer-electrician with the current engineer staying on as relief engineer-crewman. It had been arranged Astrid would stay three nights with Ryan before being taken to the airport to go to her next assignment.

In making that arrangement Ryan had asked Miranda, "Are you sure you don't mind Astrid staying with me for three nights?"

"Of course not; she's such a darling."

When Penny came aboard she hugged and kissed her husband and daughter but cold-shouldered Ryan. As arranged Mac had stood with his arm possessively around Astrid so Penny scarcely blinked when discovering the skipper was female and an attractive one at that. She and Ralph disappeared for half and hour. When they reappeared Miranda asked, "Mom, what do you think of Delilah?"

"From the shore she looks too masculine for a vessel but I suppose she is a workhorse and those lines could make arriving passengers feel safe. 

They went over to the kitchen for coffee; it's restoration into a bar to be carried out at the boatyard.

"Good gracious, this is really beautiful, nothing like the bar in the photographs."

"It's all Ryan's work," Miranda said proudly.

"It's beautiful Ryan, a real credit to you," Penny said, kissing him. "And you have totally relined this passenger deck I can see."

"Yes and our upholster at the yard is to recover all the seats, bar stools and sofas and we'll sand back the teak deck and make it look like new again. All the repainting was done in Hong Kong and she has been resurveyed to international standards but our authorities will check Delilah out at our yard and license her for the number of passengers and vehicles they decree are the maximums."

"You seem to know it all Ryan. I'm most impressed," Penny said. Ralph winked at Miranda and she smiled beautifully. They were moving with the tide and Astrid slowed the speed at bit to arrive a high tide at 3:00 and Astrid called Collin to advise on process. He reported there was no wind at the boatyard.

Miranda served the last of the fish saved for the occasion, serving it grilled with the salad she'd radioed for her mother to bring because they'd been several days since the last of their store of greens gave up the ghost. Ralph produced bottles of French Chablis.

Mac, who had his first mate's ticket, took his meal to the wheelhouse allowing Astrid to come down to join in the celebratory meal.

"How did you fill in your time when not at the wheel Astrid?" Penny asked.

The other diners froze.

"Oh this and that, working on my tan a bit, I read a lot and Mac is very sexually active."

"And my husband?"

"Sorry Penny. I came across him one afternoon masturbating so gave him relief and one night on an island Ralph and I well, how do you say, we'd been celebrating and cut loose."

"Thank you for being honest. Ralph confessed it was three times so one of you must be confused. I suppose at sea and all the dead time things do become confusing?"

"Yes Penny. At sea I would have found you more than attractive."

"Oh really," Penny said, straightening her hair. "I'm flattered."

Ralph, Miranda and Ryan began eating again, their shoulders relaxing.

At 3.20 Colin's voice boomed through the ferry's loudspeaker system.

"Hi folk, welcome. A special welcome to you returning home Ryan."

"Tidal flow should be down to under a quarter of a knot Astrid. There's no wind reading. Keep between the channel buoys and turn in at right angles. Ryan will point out the slipway but it will be clearly visible to you. Come in until the bow just touches. We'll attach a winch hook and haul you up some more so the hull remains steady. We have three piles driven and will have three more driven in on the other side to keep Delilah steady on the rise and fall of the tide because your stern will be afloat at all stages of the tide. We'll keep the winch line on at all times for extra security so there is no need for any other ties. The local newspaper has run a story about this record length vessel coming into the boatyard so half the town is turning out and the school has closed early. There are probably six to eight thousand people lining the river."

"Received and understood Colin. We have a flotilla of small craft accompany us up the channel and people ashore are flashing searchlights. This is so unexpected. Remain on air. Over and out."

Everyone was in the wheelhouse but just before they were to turn Mac went down to the cargo deck to stand at the engine control board as a precaution in case the remote controls from the wheelhouse failed. 

Docking went perfectly. First of all a new pile was rammed in and a cable with a red light on it installed to warn of the over-size vessel poking out into the channel. Spectators who remained cheered again and then once more when the siren of the Delilah sounded in acknowledgement and her berthing was completed, although the side piles were still being driven.

As soon as Ralph had taken Colin on an inspection tour of the ferry and agreement was reached on the work to be done, with Colin's experienced eye pointing out a few more items for possible inclusion, Ralph, Penny, Miranda and Mac boarded the workboat and were farewelled by Ryan and Astrid.

Astrid was longing for a bath and accompanied Carolyn to the house. Peter couldn't believe that a real sea-going captain was Astrid, a woman, and nor could his sisters when they arrived home. 

Carolyn grabbed Ryan as soon as he entered the house. "Astrid, she said she was sleeping with you."

"Yeah, Miranda said to look after her."

Scandalized, Carolyn said, "After the big kiss and sexy farewell I saw Miranda giving you I don't think Astrid sleeping with you was on her mind."

"No need for her to do that; it was worked out before we turned into the river mouth."

"God, what were you people up to on that delivery voyage?"

"Don't ask Carolyn and you won't be shocked."

"You young people are so free with sex."

"Jealous Carolyn... you can come over and join us tonight."

"Don't be so disgusting. I suppose you want me to take her to the city shopping?"

"Yeah, thanks. And lend her your car to go locally to get her face, nails and hair done. She says she always does that when arriving in port."

"Very well, no I'll be pleased to do that. She's actually very nice."

"Thanks mommy. I'll pay for all expenses including car running."

"You just concentrate on pleasing her in bed. Goodness, she's almost my age."

"Well then just say the word."

Carolyn laughed, but it was forced. "Young man, I ought to wash out your mouth with soap."

Astrid was appreciative of Ryan organizing her stay including having access to Carolyn's car. 

"I must show my appreciation darling," Astrid said that evening, leaving Ryan close to legless and hour and a half after arriving at the loft after dinner. Then she stirred him during the night and they were at it again. He leapt out of bed in the morning while she was still asleep and went over to the house for a pre-dawn breakfast.

Carolyn came out in her gown, smirking. "For goodness sake, sit and rest. Let me get you breakfast. That woman has half killed you."

When Carolyn was sitting beside Ryan drinking coffee he said, "Astrid took it up the ass for the best part of an hour."

"Ryan, how dare you speak to me like that!"

"Sorry."

He ate in silence for a couple of minutes.

"I am aware some women take it up there. It's called backdoor sex isn't it?"

Ryan said yeah, that was one name for it.

"But why?"

"I understand some women get more sensation up there than in the cunt."

Carolyn snorted and said the word to use with her was vagina.

"Does it hurt?"

"Some women can't bear it because of pain. Some grin and bear it until the pain wears off while some, even though it's tight, never lose their grin."

Carolyn chose he words carefully. "I gather you are speaking from personal experience?"

"Yes."

"What about shit?"

"Er Carolyn, the word to use with me is excrement."

She giggled and called him a cheeky poop. 

Not looking at Carolyn, Ryan asked ever so casually, "Doesn't Colin..." He paused.

"No."

Very red-faced Carolyn fled on to the deck to watch the sun rise, alone with her thoughts.

Early on the morning Carolyn and Ryan were taking Astrid to the city airport forty-five miles to the north Miranda called to say goodbye. Astrid said she'd picked up a contract to take a 190ft motor yacht from Boston to Gibraltar for a family preparing to holiday in the Mediterranean. Miranda then spoke to Ryan and said could she come over and stay a couple of nights.

"What, pussy wants some playtime?

"Ryan!" Carolyn hissed. Realizing everyone in the room was listening he raced from the room.

"Yeah, good idea," Ryan said, having missed Miranda's response to his question."

"If you think it's a good idea I'd like to check out your area and see if there's any work for me. I've asked dad what my future was with him after I've worked for a while hosting on Delilah and he said nothing unless I get my first mate's ticket but that doesn't appeal."

"I see. When do you wish to come? Carolyn might have some good contacts in town here."

"Could I come next Tuesday?"

Ryan checked and Carolyn said that would be fine.

"Yes, she knows almost every business person in town. She'd love to have you to stay and sleep in the loft."

"With you?"

"She didn't say that because Peter was listening and he'd only ten and Shannon is only fourteen."

"Oh."

"It's okay, no worries."

* * *

Miranda's desire to locate close by alarmed Ryan. Now well into the wheelhouse refit of Delilah he spent time that morning thinking of the consequences. It was as if life was closing in on him and he knew he was responsible for that. He'd been relatively happy being footloose and free as they say, happy but with reservation. Carolyn and her family had established linkages and emotions within him that hitherto he'd been denied.

The pluses of being associated with 'family' were outweighing the factors that had previously had him believing he was better off without having any ties. If had had no closer relationships he could not be hit again by dreadful personal tragedy. Chances of repeat tragedy in his personal life would also be very slim but until now he'd not thought about it in terms of percentages. He'd just steered clear of connecting to such risk. Actually he took that step towards greater risk when considering investing in the boatyard. Such investment meant ties and now Miranda seemed intent on tying to him.

Did he welcome Miranda doing this? Leaving aside pussy that is?

Ivan the leading hand who was a qualified electrician came up to finish off the re-wiring and after he left Ryan began gluing and hidden-nailing the last section of wall paneling. When Ivan had been working on that end Ryan had installed the new base for the daybed that the skipper could use between trips between base and the island. In summer the ferry began a return trip every two hours and that reduced to two return trips daily at the slackest parts of the year. Working back on the paneling Ryan's thoughts returned to Miranda.

Miranda wanting to locate lose by meant she wanted an on-going relationship with him that could become long term and ending in marriage or a committed partnership. So what do he think of that? He rattled all the good things he saw in Miranda and had to scratch really had to find any thing he found objectionable. The biggest fault he could think of was she spend a huge time in the bathroom playing with her hair, face and nails but that was offset by her not locking him out. The two biggest ticks were she could tough it out and rough it out. Living conditions on the voyage from Hong Kong had been barely adequate. Many women would have chickened out, but not Miranda. She'd just made good with what she had. And while they had avoided running into severe storms they'd struck plenty of rough weather and she's shared the duty of going out on the exposed upper deck to check that the lifeboats and various fittings including communication gear on top of the wheelhouse were secure. While doing that she would have been lashed by wind and spray. Well-fitting doors had kept the vehicular deck, below the passenger deck, dry. On top of all that Miranda like him and he liked her. Christ that's spent hours on the voyage telling each other that. 

Ryan knew he'd locked himself in buying into the yard, thought he could always sell out but why would he want to do that? He was very happy here. He'd been qualified to do nothing better than bum around and then miraculously was learning skills and had a setup that were transferring him into being an artisan. Carolyn had told him he was now entitled to call himself a journeyman and once he gained wider experience in other departments he'd emerge as a boat builder. She'd said it was one of the ancient productive crafts of civilization and was more worthy than ancient professions of law and prostitution. They had laughed themselves silly after she'd said that, wondering what her attorney would have to say about her musings.

Yep, he'd marry Miranda if that were her aim. He was flattered that she possibly regarded him as her choice of husband. They'd avoided ever talked about that possibility. He'd know how to act if their relationship began to take that route. The next step would be to help Miranda find temporary accommodation in the town and if she settled in they could then buy a house; he had money.

Colin had gone off that morning but was back home at lunchtime when Ryan went to the house to eat.

The couple had opened a bottle of wine. Carolyn poured another glass and handing it to Ryan said, "Here you go champ."

Ryan thanked her and was suspicious. What was this about? He knew Colin and Carolyn were pleased that Shannon's applications at high school to play soccer and join the ski squad next winter had been accepted without her having to participate in trials and Annie would be going to her first choice of college but that should be a whole family celebration.

"I've spent some of this morning at the council in discussion of our lease of this 4-acre council-owned site exploring possibilities," Colin said.

"The lease has nine years to run with right of renewal and as there are heaps of undeveloped riverside reserve land the council is under no pressure to develop this site for public use and, as the huge turnout testified at Delilah's arrival last Friday and the crowds that gather when we launch a new vessel council officials acknowledge an affinity between the community and the boatyard exists. We also are a sizeable employer of local people and buy locally and use local services where possible. Therefore there is no objection to us adding another dwelling to this site," Colin beamed, unfolding a plan and calling Ryan over to him.